Congress opposing women's quota not new: Ashwath Narayan

Bengaluru: Former deputy chief minister and Malleswaram MLA Dr C N Ashwath Narayan on Saturday slammed the Congress, saying it had always been against women’s reservation.

Speaking to reporters, Narayan said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s opposition to the special session of parliament on women’s reservation when state Assembly elections were on had no basis as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already brought the Women’s Reservation Act in 2023 and it was not being hurried.

“The special session is to ensure that reservation is implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, with all parties taking part in the discussions. It will bring in necessary amendments to help implement the women’s quota,” he said.

“Kharge raises objection to everything, loses his cool, makes hateful remarks against BJP, RSS and people of Gujarat. I fail to understand how a man with an outstanding career, who leads a party that is a over a 100 years old, is doing this,” said Narayan.

Taking a dig at the Congress’ claim that it would win both Assembly seats in bylections, the BJP leader said, “That party is a divided and a broken house. They have no confidence of retaining two seats they had previously won. So the entire government, including the chief minister, campaigned in the bypolls. It was not by-election, but Congress trying to buy the election”.

The bypoll is yet another opportunity for the different factions in the state Congress to settle scores amid an ongoing power tussle, he said. “It is a sinking ship. Also, legislators lobbying for Cabinet berths will change nothing for the people of the state,” Narayan said.